Game



G. NICOT A ril- 23; 1935.

GAME

Filed Nov. 4, 1951 '7 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR @ATTORNEY April 23, 1935.

G. NlCOT GAME Filed Nov. 4, 1931 7 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR (5 A T r o R N E Y G; NICOT Aprifi 23, 1935.

GAME

Filed Nov. 4, 1931 7 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR yea/ye A/JZWZ 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR C5 ATTORNEY April 23, 1935. G. NICOT GAME Filed Ndv. 4, 1931 iii April 23, 1935.

G. NICOT GAME Filed Nov. 4, 1931 7 Sfieets-Sheet 6 oiye A6002 INVENTQR l BY @852 ATTGRN EY G. NICOTI A ril 23, 1935,

GAME

Filed Nov. 4, 1951 7 Sheets-Sheet 7 'ATTORNEY a equalingthat of an Patented Apr. 23, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 6 Claims.

My present invention has reference to a game apparatusdesigned preferably for outdoor use,- but which may be built indoors if desired and which may for example be of a size approximately ordinary tennis court and targets let in the playing court, or courts, adjacent to the ends thereof; its edges being bounded by a frame consisting of boards of different heights and having a peculiar surface to enable the players to give their balls an irregular course, and wherein a golf stick is employed for driving one type of ball from the center of the court toward either target, while other types of balls are bowled along the court with the idea that the players should displace or surround the first ball driven or rolled to occupy different spaces on the target, the said spaces being defined by rings and each being designated or colored to indicate the score value of the ball received therein, together associated with the targets for catapulting the second-named balls from one end toward the other of the court, the catapulting means being of an extremely novel structure which will permit the ball arranged in the cup thereof being projected therefrom at various angles of inclination and likewise at different desired angles with respect to the longitudinal plane of the court so that the ball may be catapulted directly toward or caused to contact with the sides of the court so as to have an irregular or erratic path and dodge the opponents balls.

A further object is the provision of a game apparatus that not only involves different means for projecting the playing balls, but which will afford amusement and healthy exercise to the players and one which requires a considerable amount of skill in the playing thereof.

The invention will be fully and comprehensively understood from a consideration of the following detailed description when read in connection with the accompanying drawings which form part of the application, with the understanding; however, that the improvement is capable of extended application and is not confined to the exact showing of the drawings nor the precise construction described and, therefore such changes and modifications may be made therefrom as do not affect the spirit of the invention nor exceed the scope thereof as expressed in the appended claims In the drawings:

Figure l is a perspective view showing a game device constructed in accordance with the invention.

which has revoluble with means that are Figure 2 is a top plan view of the court arranged in playing position with the catapult at one end lowered for receiving, and with the catapult at the other end arranged for serving.

Figure 3 is a sectional view approximately on the line 3-3 of Figure 2 to illustrate the manner in which the cup carryingplunger is moved to compress either air or a spring or to extend an extension spring in the cylinder therefor, together with the manner in which the said device may be arranged at different angles, the dotted lines illustrating the position of the lever when the plunger is about to be released to catapult the ball from the cup on the end'of the said plunger.

Figure 4 is a transverse sectional view approximately on the line 4-4 of Figure 2.

Figure 5 is a sectional view approximately on the line 5-5 of Figure 4.

Figure 6 is a, similar sectional view but illustrating the cup carrying plunger moved out of the cylindrical casing therefor.

Figure 7 is a sectional View approximately on the line 'l-'i of Figure 5.

Figure 8 is a similar sectional view approximately on the line 8-8 of Figure 5.

Figure 9 is a similar sectional View approximately on the line 9-9 of Figure 6.

Figure l0 is a similar sectional view approximately on the line Iii-16 of Figure 6.

Figure 11 is a detail sectional view of a modification to illustrate the manner in which the cup carrying plunger is influenced by air pressure.

Figure 12 is a similar view to illustrate the cup carrying plunger moved outwardly from its cylinder.

Figure 13 is a detail sectional view of the lower portion of the cylinder to illustrate the position of the valve when the plunger is lowered in the cylinder.

Figure, 14 is a sectional view approximately on the line M-Hiof Figure 11.

Figure 15 is a sectional view approximately on the line i5l5 of Figure 11. r

Figure 16 is a sectional view approximately on the line |5-i of Figure 12 Figure 17 is a longitudinal section through a modified form of catapult with the piston thereof at its lowermost position.

Figure 18 isra similar view a position near its top.

Figure 19 is a view Figures 17 and 18 and showing the extreme upper limit of movement.

Figure 20 is a viewtakcn at right angle to Figwith the piston at taken at right angles to piston at its ure 1'? and with the intermediate cup member located at the bottom of the cylinder.

Figure 21 is a cross section on the line ill-2| of Figure 17.

Figure 22 is a cross section on the line 22-22 of Figure 18.

Figure 23 is a cross section on the line 23-23 of Figure 20.

Figure 24 is a cross section on the line 24-24 of Figure 20 looking upwardly.

Figure 25 is a sectional view approximately on the plane upon which Figure 4 is taken, but illustrating a difierent form of catapulting target and the actuating member therefor.

Figure 26 is a plan view thereof with the actuating member removed.

Figure 27 is a sectional view similar to Figure 25 but showing the target in its normal position.

Figure 28 is a sectional view on the line 28-48 of Figure 25.

Figure 29 is an elevation of the actuating member.

Figure 30 is a sectional view approximately on the line 3!330 of Figtue 29.

The flat body providing the playing surface may be constructed of any desired substance but is preferably of the same material as that from which a tennis court is formed, for instance clay or concrete. As the body may have a length ap proximately 65 ft. and a width approximately 12 ft. the same, because of its size, will hereinafter be referred to as the court. The court I has its central or main portion of less thickness or height than its ends, the upper face being concaved with respect to the upper edges of its sides 2. The concaved center may have a slight pitch from one end to the other if desired.

Adjacent its ends the court is provided with targets, both of which are of similar construction so that a detailed description of one will be taken as equally applicable to the other. Each target 4 is in the nature of a disc of a suitable size and the same has its upper face concaved and its periphery flanged downwardly. The targets 4 are arranged in round openings 5, the lower wall of each opening being provided with an inwardly directed ring or flange on which are secured equidistantly spaced anti-friction bearings or balls 6 that are in contact with the flat under face of the target adjacent its flanged peripheral edge, and the revoluble housings for the anti-friction balls 6 are disposed only slightly away from the peripheral flange 1 of each of the targets. Each target has its upper concaved face divided by rings 8 into goal'spaces and these spaces may be differently colored and differently numbered, the

outer space being preferably inscribed with the numeral I, the next with the numeral 2 and the inner one with the numeral 3. The purpose of this arrangement in connection with the manner in which the game is played will behereinafter described in detail.

Each target is freely rotatable on the court and each target is centrally formed with a round or transversely elliptical opening 9 and oppositely directed longitudinal slots In that communicate with the opening. Also the said central portion of each of the targets, on opposite sides of the slots it and the opening 9 is provided with other elongated slots l l and with a comparatively small slot or opening i2.

Each of the openings 9 is designed to receive therethrough a plunger 13 that has its outer end formed with a cup-shaped head l4 that is provided with laterally extending fingers 15.

Secured to the under face of each of the targets 4 there is a frame comprising a pair of spaced side members l6 connected at intervals, one of said connecting means being indicated by the numeral H, the said means being preferably in the nature of a bolt that passes through a sleeve 29 which contacts with the sides It of the frame. For the sake of lightness the frame is preferably of skeleton construction. The plunger I3 is received in a cylindrical casing I8 provided adjacent to its open top with laterally extending trunnions 19 which are journaled in suitable bearing openings in the side members it of the frame. Between the side members of the frame, adjacent to the bottom thereof and connected to the lower angle portions of said frame there is a housing 20. In this housing there is journaled the shaft of a worm wheel 21. The portion of the shaft that projects upwardly through the housing is square in cross section and the worm is in mesh with teeth on the rounded head 22 of an arm 23, which head is pivoted, as at 24, in the housing, the arm 23 projecting downwardly through the housing. The outer or lower end of the arm 23 is pivotally connected to a link 25 and this link is pivotally secured to the cylindrical casing I 8. The slot or opening 52 is designed to have passed therethrough a rod 25 that has a socket end to receive therein the square portion of the shaft of worm Z l, and which has its outer end extended laterally and formed with upstanding ends to provide a handle 2'5, theparallel ends of the head preferably merging into hooks 28. By turning the handle 27 the worm 2! will be likewise turned, the said worm meshing with the teeth 22 on the head of the arm 24 to cause the swinging of said arm which in turn will influence the link 25 to tilt the casing IE to bring the cup head M of the plunger to different angular positions. The parallel arms of the U-shaped head 2? of the arm 25, after the arm has been withdrawn from the target, may engage with the walls provided by either or both of the elongated slots I I to turn the target to different positions and thereby swing the plunger to diil'erent angular positions with respect to the longitudinal center or plane of the court I. This, however, is only done after both sides playing the game have projected the playing pieces in the nature of balls from one end toward the center of the court in a manner and for a purpose which will be presently described.

Thus in the playing of the game the plunger I3 is fully received in the cylinder I8 and the cup at the end of the plunger is received in the opening 9 of the target, while the fingers l of the cups 14 pass through the slots or openings in. This holds the cup M flush with the center of the outer face of the target.

For the purpose of this specification it is believed, however, that a further and detailed description of the catapulting mechanism be now set forth, as it is my purpose to describe the manner in which the game is played in detail. As disclosed by the drawings I employ two methods and means for forcibly projecting the cup carrying plunger partly through the casing therefor to catapult the ball in the cup. These separate means are actuated either by spring pressure or by compressed air. We will first consider the spring pressure mechanism. The plunger 53 is preferably hollow from its outer end and for the major portion of its length and the said hollow portion has centrally arranged therein a rod 30 secured in the solid portion of the plunger by provided for a suitable means. The rod has its opposed sides distance from its outer or lower 3| and these keys aredesigned to pass through key ways in a cross sectionally round head 32 that is received in the cylinder l8. The lower end of the rod as has an enlargement 33 received in the pocket in the under face of the head 3.. and the head 32 is provided with opposed peripheral notches 34 to receive therein and to slide over opposed inwardly arranged 1ongitudinally extendingkeys 35 in thecylinder it. The keys 35, it will be noted, extend a considerend with keys able distance above the closed bottom of the cylinder l8 so as to provide a driving yet slidable connection with the head. The head is influenced by a coil spring 3% that exerts pressure thereagainst and likewise against the wall or shoulder 31 defined between the tubular member as and its connection with the solid portion of the plunger 13 so that this spring when the notches 34 are in alinement with the keys will force the head downwardly to the'bottom' of the cylinder l8 and the expanded spring which may be attached to the shoulder 31, permits of the cup being received in its normal lowered position in the target. When the game is played (in a manner as hereinafter described) and one of the playing balls is placed in the cup, the cup is lifted out of its opening 9. This draws'the head upwardly above the keys 35 and when in such position the plunger carrying cup is turned so that the fingers 55 on the cup I i are'arranged transversely with respect to the slots or openings in the target, and the spring 36 will hold the plunger andcup projected. An actuating member, of ladder formation, is indicated broadly by the numeral 38 and has its side members or legs 39 passed through the elongated slots ii. The lower or outer ends of the members 39 have secured thereon, or may be formed with, yokes at whose outer ends are spread away from each other, as at ti. These yokes are designed to be passed over the ends of the bolt or fulcrum member ll. The arms of the member 38 are provided with offset plates or brackets 32 to receive the pins [5. With the bolt H as a fulcrum the handles 43 on the upper round of the ladder-like member are grasped by the operator and after the cylinder 48 and the cup carrying plunger have been adjusted by the rod 26, in a manner as heretofore described, the member 38 is swung toward one end of the court, as disclosed by the dotted lines in Figure 3 of the drawings. Such swinging will compress the spring-36, and when the member 38 is moved slightly beyond the dotted line position as disclosed by Figure 3 of the drawings, the brackets :22 will have been moved off of the fingers, which allows the expansion of the spring 38 and the partial and forcible projection of the plunger it through the casing l8 so that the ball will be catapulted from the cup toward the center of the court and against one of the side portions of the court in accordance with the part of the court upon which the player dosires the ball to rest. 7

After the ball has been catapulted the fingers 15, which also serve as handles for the cup and plunger, are turned to permit of the head 32 being moved downwardly in the cylinder and along the keys 35 which eifects return of the target to its initial lowered position in the court. The rod 26 and the ladder 38 are removed from the target during the playing of the game and these elements are employed to operate the catapulting mechanism for each of the targets.

' passage 52 alines is entitled to three balls.

only two persons play exciting conflict between The type of the device employing compressed air for the catapulting apparatus is best disclosed by Figures 11 to 16. The ball receiving cup M is similar to that previously described and the lower end thereof has screwed in a socket proplunger M. The plunger M has screwed or other- .wise secured on its lower end a head 49 that carries a cup-shaped washer or sucker member 58 which is in wiping engagement with the bore of the cylinder 55. The rod as has splined on its lower end a thick disc that provides avalve 5i. The valve 5i has a peripheral longitudinal passage 52 therethrough and the casing 45 has a port 53 designed to register withthe aperture when the valve 5i has been turned to one position. Initially, that is when the cup- !4 is arranged in the opening therefor at the target, the with the port 53 and the said port 53 communicates with the atmosphere. By turning the cup with the plunger M the pin or lug i"? will turn the valve hi to bring the passage 52 out of register with the port 53. The cylinder 45 is pivotally mounted between the side members of a frame similar to the frame is and is likewise turned to angular positions by the worm 2!, the toothed head of the arm 23 and the link 25 which is pivotally connected to the arm 23 and to the cylinder 55 in the same manner as previously described. The rod 26 is positioned to turn the worm and thereby angularly adjust the cylinder andcup and the targetis turned to any horizontal angular position on the court by the handle end 2? of the rod 26. lever 58 has its open brackets 32 brought to en gage with the pins es that extend from the opposite sides of the cup it, the arms of the said lever finding a fulcrum on the bolt ll of the frame when the same is swung air cushion between the head 3 and the valve ill at the lower end of the cylinder. When the brackets are brought off of the pins 5% the compressed air will expand to project the plunger partly through the project the ball that is resting in the cup M along the surface of the court.

For the sake of convenience I have termed my improvement Stagger ball prohibition game and in describing the manner in which the game is played I will make reference to the terms applied to the players and to the playing parts etc., by the same terms which are printed in the pamphlet pertaining to the playing of the game. Each side of players is known as a Crew and consists of W ets and Drys. The Wets have a skipper and first lookout. The Drys have a chief, a first lieutenant and one or more additional players. For a match game four players, two on each side, is the rule, but the game may be played with one or three on a side. In a game played by four people, two on a side, each player In a game played by three persons each player has four balls, and if the game is called a singleton and each player is entitled to six balls. The latter is often a very amusing and the opposing forces or WVets and Drys.

The ladder-like to compress the 1 cylinder and thus forcibly A match game. (With four players).

There are two kinds of balls viz: The big balls called stagger balls, of which there are twelve, indicated by the numeral 55 in Fig. 1, and the small ball called High ball, of which there are two, indicated by the numeral 56. JI'his latter ball is played by whosoever is entitled to start first according to the rules hereafter given.

The large balls 55 are substantially spherical shaped and have slightly .concaved portions and may be surrounded by an iron circle if desired, though this is not necessary. The concavity of the court is made to combine with this specially shaped ball to enable a player to give a staggering motion to his ball in order to avoid the ball of his opponent when such ball is in his way. Hence the name of the game stagger ball.

The little ball, called the High ball, is perfectly spherical and is never played by hand but always with the help of a club similar to a golf club, (51 in Figure 1). It is always played at a suitable distance from the Hide out or cup, where it is supposed to go if the player is clever enough to send it there in the only stroke permitted with the golf club. It may be said that this Hide out or cup has its sides arranged (one foot on each side) with a slight incline of one inch per foot which greatly facilitates the making of a birdie or Super Bobby Jones, which scores ten. This score of ten is only for the High ball. When a big ball, or stagger ball, gets to that place, or circle, it scores only 5.

Fifty points make a game. We have two teams: Ihe Wets and the nD ySn.

To find out who is to play first two High balls are necessary but only the winning ball remains in the game. The decision is made by the use .of the golf club and the High balls (a High ball before the game, as it were). The leader on each side takes the club and tries his luck, at a distance say of thirty five feet from the cup. The one landing nearest to the cup starts the game and his ball remains where it has been driven for the opening shot of the game. If both players land in the cup, making a Super Bobby Jones, they have to try again until one betters the other.

Now let us say that the Drys play first. They have played the High ball and reached a place somewhere inside the outer circle of the target. If at the end of the game the High ball has been able to keep its place there it will score 2, called a Double honor. The landing of the High ball inside any of the target circles scores this double honor or twice the value of the figure marked for that circle and there is no extra point for remaining there from the beginning to the end of the game or inning.

Now it is the Wets turn. When the High ball is in the target the stagger balls should be aimed at the target for the scoring is then made according to the target rings. But when the high ball is outside, at any place in the court, it becomes, as it were, the bulls eye of another target, and the object of the game is now to get the Stagger balls to land as near as possible to the High ball touching it if possible. The game continues thus until the 12 balls have been played, provided no incident has occurred, which will be explained later. The scoring without incidents will be comparatively simple. Thus: Both sides will score according to the position of their stagger balls inside the marked rings of the target (the Drys in the case score an extra 2 points for having placed the High ball inside ring number one). But if the High ball and the stagger balls are outside the target the winning points are made by the Stagger ball or Balls landing nearest the High ball,

one point for each ball, landing nearer than any of the opponents. The player whose stagger ball lands furthest awayhas to continue using up his balls until he places one nearer. Sometimes it happens that one player has been so unlucky as to have used up all his balls while his opponent has several still to play at the end of the game when he can place them without fear of being knocked away.

The incidents referred to consist of the foll0wing occurrences: A Defection is when a player fails to drive the High ball inside any of the target rings. This Defection imposes a fine of 5 which is added to the score of the opponent.

An Enforcement, is when a player succeeds in forcing the High ball into the target by means of his stagger ball. This counts 16 as it is a difilcult shot. This score is added at the time the Enforcement is made and no subsequent eviction of the High ball destroys its value.

An Infringement, is when a player forces the High ball out of the target with his Stagger ball. Thisscores 5, also added at the time it is made, as above rule for Enforcement.

Grand slam, is when all six stagger balls of one side have been placed inside the target. This scores 12, or twice the value of each ball.

Little slam, is when five, or all but one, balls of one side have been placed inside the target. This scores 10, or twice the value of each ball.

A Clash between the opposing forces of Wets and Drys is called for when an Infringement or a Defection has been made, but takes place actually only at the end of the inning when all the stagger balls have been used up. At this time the player who has made an Infringement or a Detection shoots, by means of the catapulting apparatus. The first Defection or Infringement made in an inning decides who is to fire the catapult first at the end of the inning. In this play one shoots the High ball at the stagger balls which have been left lying where they fell when the last scoring was made.

The post score made by the landing of the High ball from the catapult is added to the general score of the inning. The number scored depends upon how many stagger balls are near the High ball when it lands, as in the preceding game. The rest of the game is played from alternating ends of the court until all the fifty points have been scored.

In Figures 17 to 24 inclusive I have illustrated a different type of catapult mechanism embodying an elongated cylinder 62'; having its lower end closed except for a small central opening 6| and having its upper end provided with a screwed on cap 62 likewise formed with a central opening. The lower portion of this cylinder 69 is formed with diametrically opposite slots 63 which terminate short of the lower closed end as clearly shown in the drawings. Located axially within the cylinder 60 and slidable through the opening in the cap 62 is a rod 64 equipped at its lower end with a plunger 55 and provided at its upper end exteriorly of the cylinder with a cup 55 adapted to receive a ball to be projected, this cup being provided with laterally extending members 6?. Slidably mounted upon the rod 64 is a sleeve 68 formed with a female thread and having lateral slidable along the slots 63. Surrounding the rod 64 above the sleeve 68 is a coil spring in anchored at one end to the under side of the cap 62 and anchored at its other end upon the top of the sleeve 68. The lower portion of the rod -3 adjacent the plunger 85 is formed with a male thread it adapted to be engaged within the female thread in the sleeve 58. under certain circumstances to be describedj In the operation of this form of the invention it will be clear that, assuming that the parts are in the position shown in Figure 17, when the rod 64 is pulled upwardly the steep pitch thread ii will engage within the interiorly threaded sleeve 68 by rotating the plunger 64 to a certain extent. When the operator then presses the plunger 64 downwardly by pressing upon the lateral members Bl, the spring ll] will be extended and will assume the position shown in Figure 20. When the operator then releases the pressure upon the members iii the spring ill will act to draw the sleeve 58 and plunger upwardly, thereby propelling the ball from the cup 5-5 in a manner analogous to that described in connection with the first form of the invention.

In the remaining figures of the drawings I have illustrated a different form of target and a different form of actuating member for catapulting the High ball. In Figures 25 to 28 the target comprises a dished member A, mounted projections 69 to rotate on ball bearings B. The dish-shaped target is centrally formed with a square opening and is provided on two of its opposed sides with depending flanges C. In the opening provided in the member A there is normally arranged a squared member D that has its outer face dished and centrally formed with a depression providing a ball receiving pocket E. The member D has two sides provided with depending extensions or brackets F. These brackets are formed with 'iwardly extending and interiorly threaded bosses G and the outer face of each boss is provided with a depression or pocket. There is screwed in each of the bosses the reduced and threaded portions H of a cylindrical member or lug I. The depression or pocket between the shouldered portion of the lugs I is designed to compress against the tubular bearing sleeves G and into the pockets formed on the outer ends thereof the inner ends of torsion springs J and K, respectively. These torsion springs are coiledin opposite directions and the outer ends thereof are formed with approximately straight extens'ons that are secured on oppositely directed spindles L that project laterally from the body portion of a cup M. vided with laterally extending spindles, fingers or rods N constituting fulcrum members.

The threaded ends of the lugs I are formed with reduced extensions in the nature of trunnions O which find bearings in the flanges C, and on one of these trunnions 0 there is fixed small bevel gear P which is in mesh with a similar gear Q on the end of a rod R which is journaled in suitable hearings on one of the depending fianges C, and the rod orshaft R is designed to have attached thereto or may be integrally formed to provide the stem of an operating handle S. The depending flanges 0, adjacent to their lower ends are formed with outwardly extending pins T, and the member A is provided with elongated openings U which are disposed opposite the said pins T. By turning the shaft R the pinion Q thereon, intermeshing with the pinion P will turn the central element or catapult of the tar- The body of the cup is proget upon its horizontal trunnions 0. thus reversing the position of the cups E and M, so that the cup M can be brought upwardly and into the opening V in the center of the target element A. The targets can be turned on their ball bearings B in a manner as previously described, and the High ball is arranged in the cup M to be projected therefrom in a manner which will now be described. The projector or actuating means, disclosed by Figures 29 and 30, comprises a ladder-like structure or frame W having its parallel sides and its lower end formed with angular arms to provide a V-shaped opening X therein and these spaced and angular arms are designed tobe passed through the openings U and to rest on the pins T. The parallel arms of the member W are provided at spaced intervals with guide eyes Y for the reception of the spaced and parallel arms Z of a substantially U-shaped member. Z of the U-shaped member is indicated by the character a, and is in the nature of a plate. This plate is influenced in an upward direction by a helical spring I) which contacts with one of the connecting elements or rods 0 for the member W. The spring also surrounds a rod having an outer handle end e and carrying lugs between which is pivoted a trigger barf and the trigger bar has an upper handle portion or and a lower lug h. The trigger is influenced through the medium'of an arched or like spring 2' to cause the lug h to overlie the top a of the U-shaped member Z, and the lower arms of the said member Z are designed to contact with the rods N. The oppositely directed torsion springs J and K normally hold the cup M horizontally in either of the positions disclosed by Figures 25, 26, 28 or Figure 2'7. The target is turned by the member W upon its roller bearings to properly arrange the cup M in a position to have the "High ball projected therefrom. The member W is swung rearwardly of the target and through the openings U, in, a manner as previously described. This tensions the springs J and K, but the springs cannot act to swing the cup because the fingers or rods N are engaged by the arms of the member Z. When the cupM is brought to the right position the trigger g is released which causes the spring 2) to move the member Z toward the outer or upper endof the actuating member W. This brings the arms of the member 2 ofi of the rods N and allows the springs J and K to act so that the said springs will violently swing the cup and project the High ball therefrom towards the sides thereof or in the direction of the r second target at the other end of the course.

Having described the invention, I claim:

1. In a game apparatus of'the character described, a playing surface, concaved disks sunk below the playing surface defining targets, a movable cup in the center of each target adapted to receive a ball to be projected toward the other target, anti-friction bearings for the targets, said targets being provided with a central opening for the cups and having longitudinal slots communicating with the opening and having other elongated slots parallel with the first named slots and an additional slot or opening to the rear of the slots, said cups having oppositely directed outstanding fingers to be received in the first named slots for retaining the cups in place flush with the outer face of the targets, a frame secured upon the under face of each target having a fulcrum member therein, a plunger on the under face of each of the cups, a cylinder in which The top or connecting element for the arms has been moved outwardly from the target,

a compression means in the cylinder for influencing the plunger and cup outwardly therefrom and operable only when the cup has been moved outwardly from the target and turned to bring its fingers at right angles with respect to the slots in the cup, said rod having an outer substantially U-shaped handle whose ends are hooked and which are designed to engage with any of the slots of the target for turning said target, a ladder-like leverhaving its arms projecting through the outer parallel slots in the target and having forked ends spread outwardly to be arranged over said fulcrum member, and the arms of the said lever having angle plates secured thereto that receive therein the fingers of the cup, and whereby, when a ball is received in the cup and the lever is swung rearwardly through the slots therefor, the plunger will act upon the compressing means for compressing the cylinder, so that when the angle elements on the lever are moved off of the fingers of the cup the said compressible means will act upon the plunger to forcibly eject the same partly through the cylinder and thereby catapult the ball from the cup.

2. In a game apparatus of the class described, a target comprising a concaved rotatable outer member centrally provided with a squared opening and diametrically opposed depending flanges at the said opening, a concaved inner member located within said opening and provided centrally with a cup and having opposed depending brackets provided with bearing sleeves, lug members having threaded portions screwed in the sleeves and having trunnions received in bearing openings in the depending flanges of the outer member, oppositely wound torsion springs having their ends anchored between the lugs and bearings, a cup to which the second ends of the torsion springs are connected and said cup having laterally extending fingers thereon, a pinion on one of the trunnions, a handle member having a shaft journaled through the outer portion of the target and carrying a pinion to mesh with the firstnamed pinion, the flanges of the outer member having laterally extending projections and the said outer member being formed with elongated slots in a line with the projections, an actuating member comprising a ladder-like construction having its arms forked and designed to be passed through the elongated openings and engage the said projections, a U-shaped member having its arms slidable in bearings in the ladder member, spring means for influencing the U-shaped member outward on the ladder member and a spring influenced latch for holding the U-shaped member from such movement and whereby to permit of the arms of the U-shaped member to contact with the fingers for holding the spring influenced cup from movement when the same is brought by the turning of the shaft to its upper position.

3. In a game of the character described, a target comprising a rotatably mounted concaved disk having a central opening and slots, depending bearings at diametrically opposite sides of said opening, an inner member pivotally mounted between said bearings and having one side formed as a concaved plate adapted to constitute a continuation of the disk and provided at its other side with a cup, said inner member being invertible to bring either the plate or the cup into position within said opening, spring means connected to said inner member, and a removable operating lever insertable through said slots of the disk and operatively engageable with said inner member for tensioning the spring means to swing the cup on the disengagement of the operating lever from said inner member.

4. In a game of the character described, a target comprising a rotatably mounted concaved disk having a central opening and slots, depending bearings at diametrically opposite sides of said opening, an inner member pivotally mounted between said bearings and having one side formed as a concaved plate adapted to constitute a continuation of the disk and provided at its other side with a cup, said inner member being invertible to bring either the plate or the cup into position within said opening, spring means connected to said inner member, a removable operating lever insertable through the slots of said disk and operatively engageable with said inner member to tension said spring means for swinging the cup on the disengagement of the operating lever from said inner member, and releasable latch means carried by said lever and operatively connectible with the cup for holding the same against movement.

5. In a game apparatus of the character described, a playing surface, concaved disks sunk below the playing surface and defining targets, a movable cup in the center of each target to receive a ball to be projected towards the other target, anti-friction means for rotatably supporting the targets, a frame supported on the under face of each target, a plunger for each target, a cylinder pivoted to the frame and receiving the plunger therein, a compression means in the cylinder for influencing the plunger and the cup outwardly from said cylinder, means operable exteriorly of the targets for swinging the cylinder and plunger to angular positions, means for revolving the targets, means actuated by the turning of the cups when partially withdrawn from the cylinders for exerting a pressure between the plungers and cylinders for partially projecting the plungers and cups, and a removable lever fulcrumed on the frame and having elements to engage with the cup to first force the same downwardly and the plungers into the cylinders and thereafter to release the cup to permit of the mentioned compression means to forcibly project the plunger and cup to a determined outward and upward position to cause a ball when received in the cup to be ejected therefrom.

6. A game apparatus comprising a substantially rectangular court providing a playing surface, concaved disks rotatably mounted within the end portions of the court and defining targets, a movably mounted ball projecting cup in the center of each target, and means for moving the cups and disks for projecting balls placed in the cups and for determining the direction of projection.

GEORGE NICOT. 

